American Civics

Rights and Responsibilities of a Citizen

What is Civics?

• Civics: Study of what it means to be a citizen.

• Who could be citizens in the past?• Landowners?• Men?• Caucasian?

Rights and Responsibilities

•Productive member of society

•Member of town/city/state

Government

• Ideals: Beliefs that form a nation.• Government: Authority or power

that rules on behalf of a group of people.

Freedoms

• Each person guaranteed same rights and freedoms.

• Cannot be taken away.• Must do your share.

Freedoms we enjoy!

• Not every country has the same freedoms that we have.• Free public schooling• Choose your own career• Own a house• Choose a person to marry• Raise a family• Start a business• Travel• Live anywhere you want!• Speak and write• Can’t be imprisoned without cause

Over 200 years ago…

• Founding fathers planned out our government

• This is still in place today!• People rule through elected

officials

Role of Citizen

• Vote in elections• Work for a political party• Inform officials of

needs/disagreements with gov’t• Know how gov’t works

Qualities of a “Good” Citizen• Responsible family members• Respect and obey laws• Respect rights and property of others• Loyal to nation/proud of accomplishments• Take part in community• Take part in gov’t• Use natural resources wisely• Well informed on important issues• Believe in equality of opportunity for all• Respect differences and ways of life

Why study?

• Need to become “good” citizens• Understand what our gov’t gives

us• Understand our rights and

freedoms…they can be taken away if we are not aware of the laws that protect them!

Immigration and Citizenship

American Civics 9

We Are All Immigrants!

• Immigrants: People who came here from other lands.•Brought languages, cultures,

beliefs, customs, hopes, and dreams.

Early Americans

• Ancestors of Native Americans came between 12,000-60,000 years ago from Siberia.

• Moved to North, Central and South America.

• Vikings came and left.• Spanish settled in Mexico, Central and

South America, California, Florida, Texas and the S.W. United States.

Early Americans

• 13 original colonies were settled by England.

• Germans settled Pennsylvania.• Dutch settled along the Hudson.• Swedish settled in New Jersey,

Delaware.• Africans settled the South as slaves.

History of U.S. Immigration Policy

Early years= struggle to survive.• Immigrants welcomed- workers needed.

Early 1800’s: Open Shore Policy• Unlimited immigration• No criminals or diseased• 1880’s: Some restrictions added

History of U.S. Immigration Policy

• 1920’s: Quota Established• Immigration act of 1990:

• 675,000 per year• Preference to relatives, valuable skills• Refugees not included